Oxford Pleural Embolisation Trial

Thermal ablation is an established treatment for lung cancer. It involves insertion of a applicator under image guidance into a lung tumour and destroying it with radiofrequency, microwave or cryotherapy. One of the common side effects is pneumothorax, which is a leak of gas from the lungs when it punctured. Air leak necessitates placement of a drainage tube in more than half of patients undergoing the procedure. The drain can be associated with some morbidity including pain, reduced mobility, prolonged hospital stay and infection Pleural embolization refers to the injection of substances to the linings of the lung to seal air leakage. There is published evidence in using pleural embolization with autologous blood (blood drawn up from the patient's veins) to prevent pneumothorax in patients undergoing lung biopsies. This technique is also known as pleural blood patch (PBP). A study invol